A New York University psychology professor has caused outrage among the academic community after he posted a message on Twitter suggesting that obese PhD students are not capable of completing the program.

Geoffrey Miller, who specializes in evolutionary psychology, tweeted on Sunday: 'Dear obese PhD applicants: If you don't
have the willpower to stop eating carbs, you won't have the willpower to
do a dissertation. #truth.'

Professor Miller, who is visiting NYU from the University of New Mexico, quickly deleted the message after a backlash from students and professors alike.

Outrage: Fellow academics and former PhD students including Dr Jason DeCaro in Alabama posted angry responses to Professor Miller

It was quickly followed by the
remark: 'Obviously my previous tweet does not represent the selection
policies of any university, or my own selection.'

MailOnline was awaiting a response from Professor Miller as to what criteria he uses to select PhD students.

Miller, who is a tenured professor at the University of New Mexico, has joined NYU's Stern School of Business for eight months until this August.

He has been published in a wide range of international academic publications and conducted research at the London School of Economics, the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research in Munich, Germany and UCLA.

All apologies: The academic quickly retracted his offensive remark on June 2